7.138 All members of Parliament can propose bills or amendments to bills that involve an increase or decrease in expenditure or taxation. They also have the power to move amendments to Votes in the Estimates. The Standing Orders give the government the power to veto such initiatives if, in the government's view, the proposal would have more than a minor impact on the Crown's fiscal aggregates as specified in section 26J(1)(a) of the Public Finance Act 1989, or on the composition of a Vote. The relevant House procedures are set out in the section entitled “Crown's financial veto” in the chapter on financial procedures in the Standing Orders.
7.139 As the timelines for the government to decide whether or not to exercise the financial veto can be very tight, agencies and Ministers' offices must:
- have processes in place for monitoring developments in the House and select committees affecting their Minister's portfolio or Vote, and for recognising which initiatives may have an impact on the government's fiscal aggregates or the composition of a Vote;
- alert their Minister and the Minister of Finance or the Treasury as soon as possible to any such initiatives; and
- provide prompt advice on the fiscal implications of such initiatives.
7.140 Detailed administrative arrangements within government to support the veto power are approved by Cabinet from time to time. Advice on these arrangements and on the responsibilities of Ministers, their offices, and agencies is contained in Cabinet Office circular CO (07) 2 The Financial Veto and 24 Hour Rule.